Absence of Gamma Globulin in Blood

What Is Agammaglobulinemia?

Agammaglobulinemia (AGMX) is an inherited immune system disorder. Passed from parent to child, it’s also known as Bruton’s agammaglobulinemia, congenital agammaglobulinemia, and X-linked agammaglobulinemia. AGMX was one of the first immune system diseases identified.

People with AGMX have trouble making antibodies. This makes it more difficult for them to fight infection. Antibodies play a major role in the immune system’s defense against disease.

What Causes
Agammaglobulinemia?

A parent passes AGMX to their child. A gene abnormality on the X chromosome interferes with the body’s ability to produce antibodies. The gene is known as Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK).

AGMX occurs far more often in men than in women. This is because the mutation that causes the disorder is on the X chromosome. Men only have one X chromosome. A single defective copy of the gene can cause the condition. This is known as X-linked inheritance.

Women have two X chromosomes. That makes it possible for them to be carriers of AGMX. If a woman has one X chromosome without the gene abnormality, it can mask problems caused by the mutation in the other X chromosome. Both of a woman’s parents have to pass on an AGMX mutation for her to have AGMX.

There have been families where AGMX didn’t follow a pattern based on the X chromosome. This may have been due to a new X chromosome mutation. The families may also have been too small to detect the pattern.

Symptoms of
Agammaglobulinemia

The immune system uses antibodies to recognize and fight infections. A mother’s antibodies protect her child during the first six months of the child’s life. After six months, a child must produce their own antibodies. Children with AGMX can’t produce their own antibodies. This leaves them open to disease.

Symptoms of AGMX usually appear when children are between six and nine months old. Some children don’t have symptoms until they’re between three and five years old. Boys generally show symptoms at an earlier age.

Symptoms of AGMX include:

gastrointestinal infections, including chronic diarrhea

viral infections from viruses such as polio and hepatitis

nasal infections

eye infections

blood stream infections

lung infections

skin infections

bone infections

bronchial infections

spinal cord infections

ear infections

kidney inflammation

joint disease

breakdown of red blood cells

muscle and skin inflammation

reduced number of neutrophils in the blood

failure to grow

blood or colon cancer (rare)

Many of the above conditions also occur in children without AGMX. However, children with AGMX get sick more frequently. They may also have more severe symptoms.

How Is Agammaglobulinemia
Treated?

AGMX treatment depends on a number of factors. These factors include your child’s age, overall health, medical history, and the severity of the condition. One common form of treatment is to replace the antibodies in the blood. Your child will receive antibodies directly into the bloodstream to help stop infections. This is also known as gamma globulin therapy.

If your child has AGMX, there are other things you should be aware of. Children with AGMX should always seek immediate treatment for any infection or illness. They should also avoid live viral vaccinations. In a child with AGMX, a live vaccine could cause the disease instead of helping prevent it.

How Can I Prevent
Agammaglobulinemia?

Doctors recommend genetic counseling for families with a history of AGMX. Women who know that they are carriers can have tests done while pregnant to check for this condition. The chance of passing the abnormal gene to a child is 50 percent.